A *Visit to Texas by H. R. Salisbury

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 1, 1910

A Visit to Texas

By H. R. Salisbury

The general camp-meeting for the Texas Conference was held at Fort Worth, July 21-31. The camp was pitched in an open field with no shade, as those who planned it believed that such a location would be more healthful than a camp in a grove. There was always a breeze, and the evenings were cool and refreshing. On that large camp-ground I did not learn of one case of sickness.

The president’s report showed a steady growth in members; and while they have cut off two conferences,—South Texas and West Texas,—and had just held a well-attended local camp-meeting in the eastern part of the State, the general meeting at this time was about as largely attended as before these divisions were made.

There was a spirit of willingness on the part of our brethren and sisters to respond to the call for a more complete consecration. Especially at the Sabbath meeting, those who had been neglectful in their service confessed their faults and took hold anew. Many for the first time, especially among the young, made a full surrender of their lives to God.

Nothing, however, of the entire meeting impressed me more than the sight of that large number of young men and women, filling the young people’s tent morning and evening. What a mighty responsibility rests upon the parents of these young people, to see that their children are saved, every one, to the service of the Master! The church-schools of last year should all be continued, new ones started, and Keene Academy filled to overflowing.

Although the camp was on the very outskirts of Fort Worth, at the end of the street-car line, the large tent was filled every night, many of our own people sitting outside the tent in chairs brought from their tents. I trust that these sermons, heard by so many, will do much to strengthen our work in that city.

The German brethren held their meetings in our new church, just across the road from the camp. Prof. G. A. Grauer, who was there in the interest of the German Seminary, joined Brethren Miller and Leer in conducting the services. Brother C. Santee was there to present the needs of the Loma Linda Medical College; and Brother L. A. Hansen was present in the interests of the Sanitarium relief campaign.

Elder L. W. Terry was again elected president, and plans were laid for extending the work in all the departments. The conference voted to pay the salary of a laborer in the West Texas Conference for the coming year, and for the first time gave a part of its tithe to carry the work to the regions beyond, voting one thousand dollars to the Mission Board, five hundred dollars of which the General Conference used to help in strengthening the work in the newly formed South Texas Conference. It was an encouragement to our brethren and sisters to be able, after twice dividing the conference, and paying all the laborers in full for the year, to also help needy fields at home and abroad.

The workers in their reports told of open doors on every hand. May God bless our laborers, that they may enter these doors before they are closed by prejudice. H. R. SALISBURY.